Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #185 is an issue of the series Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2005. It was published on November 10, 2004.
Synopsis for "Riddle Me That, Part One"
As Batman jumps from rooftop to rooftop, he makes his way to his destination. Batman then crashes through a window and sees a hostage tied to a chair. Batman assures the hostage Dr. Dallaway that he is safe but it turns out the hostage is a mannequin. Suddenly, the entire room becomes barricaded by reinforced plates covering all exits then an array of laser scopes point at Batman. A shower of bullets fills the room but Batman evades the gunfire then knocks out the shooters.
As soon as Batman catches a breath, he notices one window that wasn't closed off. He breaks through and lands on an adjacent rooftop then notices a green package. Batman reports his discovery to Commissioner Akins. Batman gives Akins the riddle left in the green package. A casino chip with the riddle saying "The maker doesn't want it, the buyer doesn't use it and the user doesn't see it." The answer to the riddle is a coffin.
Akins was still confused about the correlation between a black and yellow casino chip and a coffin. Batman explains that the casino chip is referred as a "tiger" and the clue leads to Nathaniel "Tiger" Koughun. Nathaniel is a highly respected businessman who comes from old money and his practices are old school. Batman tells Akins that he is going to Koughun to stop the Riddler but they are interrupted by Metropolis reporter Kara Harris who enters the room.
Akins and city hall have approved an assignment that demands Batman give Harris his full cooperation in doing an article about him. City hall wants to examine the police department's apparent need of utilizing the Batman. Harris tells Batman that she was born in Gotham and has a sister in the city. Batman tells Harris to use her time more effectively by spending time with her sister rather than shadowing him.
Akins is reluctant to agree with Batman that the current moment may not be the best time for Harris to interview the Batman. Harris laughs off Akins' concerns about the Riddler because Newstime did a criminal mastermind expose deeming the Riddler the most pathetic. Akins accidentally mentions Koughun which intrigues Harris but Batman tells Harris to stay out of his way. Batman recommends Harris go write an article about Metropolis' favorite son Superman if he isn't exclusive to Lois Lane. Harris admits her defeat to Batman but she won't be deterred.
Batman surprises Koughun on rainy night. Batman tries to warn Koughun that the Riddler has taken an interest in him but Koughun doesn't listen and tells Batman to leave. Koughun gets up to pour himself a drink while Batman continues to question Koughun about why the Riddler mentioned him in one of his riddles. Koughun doesn't have any clue why the Riddler is after him and he asks Batman to keep his voice down because his wife is sleeping.
Batman notices a portrait over Koughun's fireplace mantle. Koughun tells Batman that it is Renoir and he paid a small fortune for it. Batman informs Koughun that he overpaid for a forgery. Batman points out that the Daughter of Catulle Mendes are different because in the original, one girl on the right is merely resting on the piano while the forgery has the girl pointing to the notes on the piano note stand.
Batman examines it further and notices coordinates for both latitude as well as longitude. Batman determines the coordinates lead to the old hydroplant on Blake. Batman asks Koughun to explain and Koughun finally confesses that the Riddler was here. Riddler threatened Koughun to hang this clue for the Batman to find. Batman then detects a peculiar chemical smell like pesticides. Batman asks Koughun if Riddler or any of his men smelled odd.
Koughun didn't understand the question but Batman deduces the chemical smells like mushrooms. Batman figures Riddler must have been in close contact with Tri-Hydroxyoctane which is only made at JB Chem. Batman leaves Koughun and Koughun hears a knock at the door. Koughun opens the door and sees Kara Harris. Harris introduces herself as a reporter and just as Koughun was about to shut the door in her face, Kara stops the door by promising to keep Koughun out of her headlines so long as he shares everything he just told the Batman.
Meanwhile, a Professor Jarrod Buttery has been noticing a peculiar vagrant at a park bench in Robinson Park. Every now and then, Jarrod will stop by that bench and attempt to do a crossword puzzle in the daily Gotham Gazette. Jarrod will then get an abrupt phone call and place the crossword puzzle on the side while he talks. The vagrant finishes the puzzle and vanishes before Buttery can resume the crossword. Buttery makes another pass at the vagrant and stops him before he can flee. Buttery introduces himself and asks if he can perform more intellectual tests to heighten the vagrant's talent. The vagrant shakes Buttery's hand and says his name is Edward Nashton.
Appearing in "Riddle Me That, Part One"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Riddler (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
- Kara Harris (First appearance)
- Nataniel Koughun
- Doctor Dallaway (Mentioned only)
- Professor Jarrod Buttery (First appearance) (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Metropolis (Mentioned only)
- Gotham City
- GCPD Headquarters
- JB Chemicals
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight series
- Images from Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Vol 1 185